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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Dani

Kryxis was there when she returned, pacing in front of the door. He must have sensed her because he turned her way when she approached.

“ Sivaras nocta vishar , Dani?”

She patted the pocket where she put the datachip. “I got what I came for…”

His eyes flicked up to the doors and she could still see the tension in him. “Go now.”

She thought about what to say, how to tell him how sorry she felt. She opened her mouth then closed it, trying to find the words.

It had to have been awful. And she wondered how much he remembered or if it was something he didn’t want to speak of. She couldn’t blame him either way, and she wasn’t sure if it was the right place or time.

“Kryxis, I…”

Something crashed close by, making Dani flinch. Before she could look to see what it was, Kryxis scooped her up.

“Go. Dangerisss.”

“Yeah…let’s get out of here.” Time to ask him questions later.

Kryxis raced back toward the stairs, moving quicker than before, forcing her to hold on to him. He climbed the stairs two at a time, and when they got to the next floor, he paused only briefly to smell the air. Veering to the left, he flew down the darkened hall, bounding over another downed bot, until he slowed coming to the door of a tech lab.

“They’re in here?” Dani asked.

“ Xa .” He let her down beside the door.

She went to knock, then paused, glancing back at Kryxis guiltily. “The others are going to be on edge, and Garret might have some bullets left. You should hide.”

“Hide?”

“Yes, hide.” She covered the glass of her helmet in her hands then pointed to a room opposite. “In a room close by. Please. Just until I talk to them, okay? So they understand you mean no harm.”

His gaze snapped over to the room opposite. He mumbled something then backed away. “Be…close.”

“I know you will.”

As he disappeared into the room, Dani turned back to the door. She knocked heavily against it. “Myrell? Garret? It’s me,” she called.

It was silent, and for a second she feared something might have happened. Then she heard shuffling at the door.

“Dani?” Garret’s muffled voice called back.

“Yes! I’ve come to get you out. Open up.”

There was more shuffling, then she heard Myrell’s voice. “Wait. How do we know it’s you?”

Dani smirked. “There was only one who could mimic like that. But I set him on fire, remember?”

She heard them talking but couldn’t make out the words. “All right…” Garret said, “Back away from the door.”

She did as asked and heard something being moved aside before the door slid open.

Garret appeared with his gun aimed, with Myrell right behind him. Dani lifted her hands, then slipped off her helmet. As soon as he saw her fully, he dropped his gun. “Holy shit, it really is you.”

Before she could open her mouth, he was pulling her into him, hugging her so tight he almost lifted her off her feet. She dared to glance at the room opposite and saw a pair of eyes shining in the dark. She waved her hand behind her, hoping Kryxis understood it meant to stand down.

Garret released her. “I can’t believe it. On the bridge, I thought…”

Dani pursed her lips. “I got…lucky I guess.”

Myrell came around and pulled her into a hug next. “Crazy lady, what are you doing out here all alone? And how the hell did you find us?”

“I saw you on one of the security feeds,” she explained.

“Damn, we were trying to get into the system ourselves but with no luck. Thought we’d be stuck here for a long time if we couldn’t get communication up.”

“Yeah, I heard you through the helmet just barely. That’s when I knew I had to come find you.”

Garret studied her. “How did you get here? This place is crawling with all sorts of dangerous things. And not just bugs.”

Dani shifted. “I, um…I had some help.”

They gave her a curious look.

“From who?” Myrell asked.

Dani rubbed her hands on her suit nervously. “Look…don’t freak out.” She turned her gaze to Garret. “Especially you.”

His brow furrowed. “Okay.”

She squared her shoulders. “I was…saved by someone at the bridge. Someone I didn’t expect. They aren’t going to hurt you. I swear.” She turned to the room. “Kryxis, come out,” she called.

She stared into the looming dark and saw the glint of his eyes first. Then he cautiously stepped into their light.

Myrell gasped.

Garret backed away, his gun rising. “What the fuck—”

“Wait!” Dani whirled around, putting up her hands. “Don’t! It’s okay. He’s not going to harm you now.”

“By the elder gods, Dani, is that—” Myrell’s eye widened. “Is that the thing you tried to kill in the shipping sector?”

“His name is Kryxis. And he’s vrisha. He’s…been here a long time.”

Garret hadn’t moved, his gun still aimed at Kryxis.

“Look.” Dani went over to Kryxis and patted his arm. “See? He’s all right.” Kryxis’ head was lowered, his tail weaving behind him. She wished he didn’t look like he was about to pounce on them when she was trying to defend him.

The pair glared at Kryxis. “You’re certain it’s not just…you know…toying with you?” Myrell asked.

“He’s not.”

Garret didn’t look convinced. Myrell’s expression, however, softened a little. She tugged Garret’s arm. “Lower the gun. She’s telling the truth.”

He hesitated. “Seriously, Dani?”

“Seriously.”

There was tension thick in the air between them. Then Garret slowly lowered his gun. “I don’t like this.”

“I know it’s hard to believe. And right now, it’s kind of hard to explain. But you need to trust me. Let’s just get back to the ship first.”

Garret’s finger still itched on the trigger. Myrell crept closer.

“Well. If the fire couldn’t kill him, I doubt we’d get very far now…even on Garret’s low stock of bullets.”

“Myrell—” he growled.

She put her hand out toward Kryxis. “So, we are at a truce?”

Kryxis straightened. He glanced at Dani, and she nodded. Turning back to Myrell, he took her hand in one of his blue ones, shaking it before releasing.

Myrelle chuckled nervously. “All right. Let’s get the hell out of here.” She looked to Garret. “You good?”

Garret and Kryxis were glaring each other down, neither trusting the other. Then Garret blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “But he goes first.”

Kryxis grunted as if he understood, and that was no issue to him. Without hesitation, he picked her up. As he did, Garret’s gun rose.

“Why is he—”

“I got injured on the bridge,” Dani explained to him quickly.

“Did he—”

“No.”

“Oh, give it a rest, soldier.” Myrell pushed his gun down. “No time to argue. Let’s just go.”

Kryxis moved first, taking it slow this time so the others could keep up. They started back the way they came, down a flight of stairs. There was no chance of taking the bridge now which meant either trying to find a way out at ground level or taking the tunnels again. She trusted Kryxis knew the best route either way.

Once they got halfway down, however, she noticed sticky webbing on the walls and could hear things skittering. Garret had his gun aimed upward but they could see nothing in the darkness. The air was thick with that metallic scent. Dani found herself clinging to Kryxis, eyes searching wildly for any sign of movement.

When they broke out onto the first level, Kryxis veered to the right then halted as something hissed close by. Kryxis bared his teeth and growled.

Garret swung his light around, and several large creatures were coming at them from down one hall.

They looked like smaller versions of the spider-mantis only they were covered in bruiser fungus. It was growing all over their backs and shoulders. Even covering some of their faces.

One shrieked at them and lunged.

Garret shot at them, letting off several rounds, white light flashing in the dark. Kryxis swung his tail out like a whip and sliced one across the chest.

“There’s too many!” Myrell shouted.

Dani gasped, clutching to Kryxis as he jerked back and ripped through a second then kicked another with his mighty leg, sending it flying. When more drew closer, he leaned forward and roared at them.

The spider-mantises slowed, a few flinching away. It appeared to work at first. Until she heard skittering and saw more crawling up the sides of the wall and ceiling.

Kryxis growled. He set her down then pushed her back toward the stairs.

Dani took out the shooter Kryxis had given her and shot at one closing in. She tugged on Myrell to follow. “To the stairs!”

Garret continued to fire on the bugs as he met them at the stairwell. Myrell swept inside first as Garret moved in next.

“Dani, let’s go!” he shouted.

Dani hesitated by the door. Kryxis was keeping the bugs back.

“Kryxis, come on!” she called.

He snarled at the mob closing in on him. Then he turned back for the stairs.

He picked her up again and shut the door behind them. They rushed down the stairwell, below ground level.

There was a loud bang above them, followed by the shattering of glass and groan of metal. Then came the loud hissing of the mob. They’d broken through the door and were clambering down toward them.

“Fuck, run!” Garret shouted. He grabbed Myrell, practically picking her up off her feet.

They flew down the stairs and shot out into a tunnelway. There was nothing to barricade the door, and the bugs were close behind, so they ran. When they’d barely made it halfway down the tunnel, the door burst open, and the bugs rushed in. Garret whirled around and shot toward them, but it hardly slowed them down.

“We can’t lose them!” Myrell cried.

Kryxis slowed then halted, setting Dani down again. Before she could ask what he was doing, he put two firebombs in her hands.

“Go,” he growled.

“What—”

He pushed her toward the way they were running. Then he pulled Garret back.

“Go,” he hissed.

Dani reached for him but was tugged back by Garret.

“Dani, let’s go!” he snapped.

She tried to struggle out of Garret’s grip as he dragged her and Myrell down the tunnel. “Wait, Kryxis!”

Kryxis looked back and their eyes locked. She didn’t have time to read what she saw there in his gaze before he turned away to face the horde which were nearly upon him.

Garret was forced to pick her up as they sprinted down the tunnelway. For a moment, Kryxis faded into the dark as their light no longer reached him. Then the air pressure dropped.

A flash of orange heat burst into the tunnel. She flinched and shut her eyes to the intensity of the firebomb, feeling the heat against her face.

Garret and Myrell didn’t stop. They rushed through the dark as bits of debris and dust fell on them, and they heard a mighty roar above a mass of shrieking, angry cries.

It felt like they ran forever, but Dani could feel Garret slowing. She looked around and saw one of the wide metal doors ahead, signaling they’d reached the end of the research sector.

Garret set her down and went for the door. He shot off the lock before wrenching the door open. Dani turned to look back for Kryxis but was pulled away, Garret leading her and Myrell through to the other side.